[hr] [center][img]https://i.imgur.com/DhO9jwL.png[/img][/center] [center][img]https://i.imgur.com/7UxgEHd.png[/img][/center] [center][img]https://i.imgur.com/183DKCg.png[/img][/center] [right][b][code]World Fighting Carnival - Reception Room.[/code][/b][/right] [hr][hr] Isabella sighed and took a sip from his flask. The match was exhilarating; an uplifting reminder that the dark arts were still alive in their own way, but it was over now. He couldn’t even sneak halfway to the bar for a refill before Jill managed to track him down, swerving through the crowds like she was racing through rush hour. He had to wonder if she managed to dodge the cameras, too. [color=LightSeaGreen]“Hey Izzy…”[/color] The younger Rider stopped to catch her breath. [color=LightSeaGreen]“Good match, huh?”[/color] The older Rider frowned. [color=Silver]“There’s a lot to go over-”[/color] [color=LightSeaGreen]“You ever heard of somethin’ called Oh-One?”[/color] The look in her eyes was too genuine to defuse. He thought for a moment. [color=Silver]“Can’t say I have.”[/color] Isabella stared off into the distance, scanning the crowd. [color=LightSeaGreen]“Well, this lady came up to me before the match, she was tellin’ me about this big robot that’s gonna try and change humanity, and then in the match this guy was tellin’ me about how he’s gonna get the Power Stone too! Was just wonderin’ what you thought about it all…”[/color] Jill looked expectantly at the half-devil as she spoke. He didn’t know how to look like he was as impressed as she wanted him to be. He’d seen a lot of ambitious threats in his years, seeking to take over the world or destroy it or other such nonsense. None of them ever succeeded, and those in charge of society never thought it was worth it to try and prevent the phenomenon. They were, much like the Riders themselves, an eternally recurring fad of the year. Or decade, if the stars aligned. Still, that wasn’t to imply they weren’t worth taking seriously. [color=Silver]“Well,” Isabella stroked his chin. “If someone’s going to try and take the stone, we’re in a good spot to defend it now. I’m gonna make a few calls. Just focus on the tournament for now, Rider.”[/color] Jill smiled, and gave him a thumbs up. Before he could stop her, she was already running off again. A book slammed shut. [color=DarkViolet]“She’s barely even stopping to say hi, huh.”[/color] Jasmine held her grimoire at her side as she went back to her phone. She’d been swapping back and forth since he finished his match. [color=Silver]“She’s making new friends,”[/color] The Rider shrugged. [color=Silver]“You don’t have anything better to do?”[/color] The Witch shrugged back. [color=DarkViolet]“Something similar, I guess.”[/color] Jasmine said. [color=DarkViolet]“You seen that Lucas kid anywhere?”[/color] [color=Silver]“Who?”[/color] [color=Tomato]“Uhhh… Bizbyland?”[/color] Beelzebub helpfully added. [color=Silver]“... Who?”[/color] Isabella was looking more confused by the second. [color=DarkViolet]“Never mind. I’m gonna have a look around.”[/color] Jasmine turned to leave. Isabella took a quick look around for Horizon’s little experiment, and its little companion. He only saw one of them. [color=Silver]“Be careful, [i]hija.[/i]”[/color] He said. Jasmine turned around and smiled. She liked the switch from [i]hijo[/i], he’d noticed. [color=DarkViolet]“I’ll be fine,”[/color] The witch said. [color=DarkViolet]“Besides, I’ve got the big guy too, right?”[/color] Beelzebub grinned unconvincingly. [color=Silver]“You’ve got my number.”[/color] Isabella said. [color=Silver]“If you don’t know how to contact me magically yet, learn.”[/color] Jasmine nodded as she left. He left as well, sneaking off towards the garages. There was a lot to follow up on. [hr] [b]Interactions: Oh-Seven[/b] [@Punished GN] [right][b][code]World Fighting Carnival - Reception Room Bar.[/code][/b][/right] [hr] Jill managed to track down Auri again pretty quickly. There was a lot going on, but she had a major case of tunnel vision. [color=LightSeaGreen]“Auri!”[/color] Jill waved hello. [color=LightSeaGreen]“Hey, you know anything about that Aaron Sawyer guy I just fought? He was tellin’ me he was from the future, which sounded kinda weird, but he knew about Oh-One too! Said he’s after the power stone, so…”[/color] Her mind began to slow down, processing the Oni angrily demanding a drink (weren’t they not supposed to leave Japan? She supposed she didn’t mind) and then everything surrounding her. She finally registered that she was already talking to someone, who probably heard everything she just said. He was wearing a hoodie for some reason… which was weird in Brazil, but she wasn’t one to judge. [color=LightSeaGreen]“Oh…”[/color] She said slowly. [color=LightSeaGreen]“Sorry to interrupt ya, there.”[/color] [hr] [b]Interactions: ???[/b] [@KremeSupreme] [right][b][code]World Fighting Carnival - Maintenance Room.[/code][/b][/right] [hr] Isabella snuck through the underbelly of the stadium with ease. Despite his size, he had the uncanny ability to escape notice and slip out of sight if you weren’t focused on him. It was part of what made him so valued for the more morally ambiguous work he’d found himself taking part in throughout his life. He snuck into Horizon Frontiers’ garage without making a sound. He looked over the room with disdainful interest. Evidently, their dog was having issues. Hopefully, there would come a time where he could make sure they couldn’t fix them, but it hadn’t come yet. He produced an SD card from his trenchcoat and tossed it towards the pair who looked like they weren’t doing anything, very deliberately choosing to do it before he even announced his presence. [color=Silver]“Here’s the data from the kid’s little bout.”[/color] His tone was tensely professional, mostly restraining his disregard for everything about this room and everyone in it. [color=Silver]“She was telling me about some robot trying to take the stone… is it one of yours?”[/color] [hr] [hr] [center][img]https://i.imgur.com/ZohkpEb.png[/img][/center] [hr] Rosie slipped out of the arena with a confident smile on her face, strutting towards a secluded alley. The match was child’s play, though with a bit of dramatic flair. She’d managed to draw it out, getting into her opponent’s head and dodging every single attack they threw at her while simultaneously refusing to throw so much as a jab back at them. Right when she was at the edge of the ring, and their rage was at its peak… she simply waited for the charge, grabbed them by the hand and pulled them off the edge of the ring. A victory by ring out! You didn’t get that doing odd jobs. Of course, this was merely spectacle in the grand scheme of things. While Rosie was out in the ring, she’d sent her shadow out to sneak about and map out the rest of the stadium, identifying security patrols, keycards, door combinations, important documents, the likely location of the Power Stone, you name it… All of which Rosie could copy and forge to complete perfection. That paintbrush wasn’t just for parlor tricks. Rosie stopped next to the familiar sight of the black limo, which was now flanked by three hooded figures. [color=MediumPurple]“Afternoon, friends,”[/color] Rosie handed over her lovingly collected information. [color=MediumPurple]“I come bearing gifts.”[/color] [i]You haven’t gotten the Stone yet?”[/i] The short one hissed. They were trying to be angry, but they were clearly just clueless. [color=MediumPurple]“If I’d gotten it, [i]you’d already know.[/i]”[/color] Rosie frowned. [color=MediumPurple]“This is one of the most important and coveted artifacts in the world. It’s not a one devil job.”[/color] [i]”You promised this council that your skills were beyond measure.”[/i] The tall one mused. [i]“You told us that you were still of use, instead of a has-been. An aimless degenerate-”[/i] Rosie glared daggers into the younger devil, sharpened by corners of Hell it had yet to see. It took a step back. [color=MediumPurple]“I do not see a ‘council’ here,”[/color] Rosie said, stepping forward. [color=MediumPurple]“I see a party of idealogues who can’t put their money where their mouths are. You’ve got some big desires, and dear Belial has been telling you they’re exactly what the world needs. You don’t think highly of devils like me, or Beelzebub, who are not so strictly devoted to your lovely little dreams, but you forget that [i]we have earned our keep,[/i] and when it comes time for you to act on your little plans, I find myself to be the one who has to step up to the plate. Do you resent us for being unwilling to act, I wonder? Or do you resent that we are the only ones who can?”[/color] Rosie was met with silence. This was about as visibly angry as any devil could remember her being for centuries. Behind her back, many were willing to claim she’d gone soft, but face to face, none were willing to put that to the test. [color=MediumPurple]“So, if you haven’t already found more participants in this little project, you’d better get to it soon. Understood?”[/color] Rosie sighed, anger fading as she was met with scared nods. [color=MediumPurple]“And one more thing. Hooded robes? Seriously? It’s not 13XX anymore. You could at least [i]try[/i] to be subtle.”[/color] The short one shifted awkwardly. And with that, Rosie snuck back into the tournament hall. She’d managed to vent, at least.